take your lumps

take (one's) lumps

To experience and accept adversity, challenges, etc. The term typically implies that one perseveres without complaint despite such negative experiences. I know that I have to take my lumps as an intern to earn the other employees' trust and move up the corporate ladder.

See also: lump, take

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

take (or get) your lumps

suffer punishment; be attacked or defeated. informal, chiefly North American

1971 Bernard Malamud The Tenants Now I take my lumps, he thought. Maybe for not satisfying Mary.

See also: lump, take

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

take your ˈlumps

(American English, informal) accept bad things that happen to you without complaining: If we make mistakes, we’ll take our lumps.

See also: lump, take

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017